HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.285 2024-2026From:
Jim Albertini
Sent:
Sunday, August 17, 2025 8:04 PM
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To:
Council Testimony
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Subject:
Testimony is support of Resolution 234-25
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August 17, 2025 Testimony by Jim Albertini for Malu `Aina in support
of Hawes C ity
Resolution 234-25 about P6hakuloa
On behalf of our organization - Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action, I strongly
support Resolution 234-25.
This resolution is especially urgent in light of today's Honolulu Star -Advertiser's article by Kevin
Knodell about the Army Secretary, Dan Driscoll, and Governor Josh Green talk of fast tracking a deal
on Pohakuloa within 60 days. Where is Due Process and respecting the right of public input? The
Governor needs to stop these behind closed door meetings to cut a deal with the Army now. That
subverts the very basis of democracy. The BLNR on May 9, 2025 rejected the Army's final EIS on
Pohakuloa. 1500 people submitted written testimony opposing the Army EIS. 140 testified in person on
May 9, and 70 organizations issued a joint statement opposing the Army EIS and a new lease. IF
GOVERNOR GREEN AND THE ARMY SECRETARY FAST TRACK A NEW LEASE ON
POHAKULOA WITHIN 60 DAYS, THEY ARE INVITING LEGAL ACTION IN OPPOSITION AND
MASSIVE CIVIL
HAWAII.
ACTIONS BY A VERY BROAD BASED MOVEMENT IN
Let's be clear" The military needs to Stop Bombing and Shelling Pohakuloa, Clean up its unexploded
ordnance and toxic mess created from 80 years of live fire, do a comprehensive Ka Pa'akai analysis, and
return the stolen land to the Hawaiian people. The Hawaii County Council passed Resolution 639-08
seventeen years ago which called for 8 actions by the military, including stopping all live fire and cleaning
up its DU mess, none of which have been done.
Hawaii is the most densely militarized state in the US and one of the most militarized places in the world.
According to the State of Hawaii 2023 Data book (http:///dbedt.hawaii.Qov, the current number of
military installations in Hawai'i is 129. A Civil Beat article of June 18, 2025,
https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/06/hawaii-needs-new-tech-to-clean-up-old-bombs/ says MORE THAN 300
"Formerly Used Defense Sites" (FUDS) are scattered across the Hawaiian Islands. That only includes
sites before 1986 so Kaho'olawe and possibly other sites are NOT included in this list of more than 300
total FUDS. In 2003, Malu `Aina prepared a map of Hawaii island with a list of 57 present or former
military sites. (https://malu-aina.org/?p=11342.) A 58ffi site is Popoki Target Area near HPP between
Kea'au and Pahoa. There may be more sites that are still unknown. Watch where you step!
The military currently controls more than 221,000 acres of land in Hawaii. Pohakuloa totals nearly
133,000 acres, more than half of all military lands in Hawaii. Now the military wants more lands to create
"Buffer Zones" around key military installations called "Sentinel Landscapes." It wants to create a
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control buffer zone of more than 66,000 acres around the entire PTA base according to the Hawaii
Military Land Use Master Plan (HMLUMP). These "Buffer Zones" will be used to co-opt environmental
groups and farmers from criticizing the military if they want to keep access to lands around bases. Please
tell me who would want to eat vegetables or a hamburger from crops or animals grown next to the
Pohakuloa Toxic Area?
In summary, Pohakuloa is the 133,000 toxic elephant in the center of Hawaii Island. Continued bombing
and shelling re -suspend toxins into the air that can be carried long distances in the wind. Military toxins
have the potential to contaminate major aquifers beneath Pohakuloa. Pohakuloa is a zoned a State
Conservation District. The highest protected land status. Bombing and shelling are not compatible land
uses in a conservation district. How much more basic can you get. The final EIS on the PTA lease
renewal states that since 1975, 1261 wildfires have been started at Pohakuloa. The EIS further states that
records prior to 2012 are incomplete so the actual number of wildfires started at PTA could be higher. It
also states that due to increasing climate change the number of wildfires is likely to increas. Let me be
frank. Council members, you need to do more than urge the State to take action. You need to take action.
Our organization since 2007 has detected on numerous occasions Radiation blowing in the strong winds
off Pohakuloa toward Gilbert Kahele Park with certified, calibrated radiation monitors, The levels
reached 3, 4, even 5 times background levels. When are you going to put proper air filter monitors in that
park to determine the toxins coming off PTA? When are you going to do soil testing in that park? Or is
your position if we look we may find something, so better not look. I hope, and expect you to do better.
Mahalo. Malama `Aina.
Jim Albertini, president of Malu `Aina
Jim Albertini Malu 'Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola'a
(Kurtistown) Hawai'i 96760
Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
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